Review Finds No "Fatal Flaws" in D.C. Streetcar Project

Receive the latest transit updates in your inbox

An independent review has found no problems with the District of Columbia's long-awaited streetcar line that are serious enough to doom the project.

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced Friday that the American Public Transit Association found no "fatal flaws" that would prevent the streetcar project on H Street NE from opening to the public.

Streetcars have been testing along the H Street corridor since last year, but have yet to carry paying passengers.

The District has spent nearly $200 million on the 2.4-mile streetcar line, which would be the first working trolley in the nation's capital in more than 50 years. The project has been beset by delays and cost overruns. The city's new transportation director, Leif Dormsjo, hasn't ruled out abandoning the project altogether.

The APTA peer review panel recommended DDOT provide more training for maintenance staff, review procedures and add staff experienced with streetcar operations, according to a statement from DDOT.

Dormsjo said in a statement that the independent review provides a pathway toward a streetcar service that will serve passengers safely. It hasn't opened yet because safety certifications haven't been completed.